Compound heterozygous variants in LAMC3 in association with posterior periventricular nodular heterotopia

BMC Med Genomics. 2021 Feb 27;14(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s12920-021-00911-4.

Abstract

Background: Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a malformation of cortical development characterized by nodules of abnormally migrated neurons. The cause of posteriorly placed PNH is not well characterised and we present a case that provides insights into the cause of posterior PNH.

Case presentation: We report a fetus with extensive posterior PNH in association with biallelic variants in LAMC3. LAMC3 mutations have previously been shown to cause polymicrogyria and pachygyria in the occipital cortex, but not PNH. The occipital location of PNH in our case and the proposed function of LAMC3 in cortical development suggest that the identified LAMC3 variants may be causal of PNH in this fetus.

Conclusion: We hypothesise that this finding extends the cortical phenotype associated with LAMC3 and provides valuable insight into genetic cause of posterior PNH.

Keywords: Case report; LAMC3; Lobe; Occipital; Periventricular nodular heterotopia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia* / genetics
  • Pregnancy